title: Does leaving welfare improve health? Evidence for Germany.
abstract: Using exceptionally rich linked administrative and survey information on German welfare recipients we investigate the health effects of transitions from welfare to employment and of assignments to welfare-to-work programmes. Applying semi-parametric propensity score matching estimators we find that employment substantially increases (mental) health. The positive effects are mainly driven by males and individuals with bad initial health conditions and are largest for males with poor health. In contrast, the effects of welfare-to-work programmes, including subsidised jobs, are ambiguous and statistically insignificant for most outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute for Empirical Economic Research, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lechner
authors.forename: Conny
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wunsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D011632:Public Assistance / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*